Twenty seven year-old saxophonist-composer Adam Larson, endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, D’Addario Woodwinds and Lebayle mouthpieces, began playing saxophone at the age of 11. As a high school student, Larson was a member of virtually every national program dedicated to showcasing excellence in young jazz talent including The Grammy Band, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Betty Carter Jazz Ahead, YoungArts Jazz Fellows, Telluride Student All-Stars, Jazz Band of America and many others. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined”, by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind”, and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as “a self-assured young saxophonist”, Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation.

With four records under his name, Larson’s latest, entitled “Second City”, will be released on the Inner Circle Music Label, in the Fall of 2017. Larson’s 2015 debut for Inner Circle, “Seclective Amnesia” was featured in the New York Times, Downbeat, Saxophone Journal and several other publications in print and online. Larson keeps an active schedule with his groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Cornelia St. Café, The Kitano, Dizzy’s Club-Coca Cola, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Showcase, and several others. As a sideman, Adam has performed with numerous groups including Jamie Cullum, Ted Rosenthal, The Ari Hoenig Nonet, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Otis Brown III Band, Michael Rodriguez Quintet and the Helen Sung Quartet. Larson’s sound can be heard on numerous recordings from bandleaders such as Nils Weinhold, Bastian Weinhold, Marcus Lewis, Joo Chan Im, Victor Bastidas, and others.

Adam has been a part of several tours that have allowed him to see more of the world than he once thought possible. Larson’s quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s “American Music Abroad” program and toured Africa for 35 days in April 2015, visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana. Larson has also toured India, Taiwan, Holland, and Germany as well much of the United States. In October of 2017, Larson will travel to Poland to be the a guest artist, performing at the Sopot Jazz Festival.

Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and master class presenter at several high schools and Universities across the Midwest and beyond. Appearances include Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, University of North Texas, Elmhurst College, Roosevelt College, University of Illinois, Univesity of Colorado-Greeley, Northern Illinois University, University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois Central College and Hutchinson Community College, among many others. Adam maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written thirty original works to date. Larson is currently a Teaching Artist for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz For Young People, The New York Pops Ed education programs, and has a diverse private lesson studio of Skype students from the U.S. and abroad. Larson has also taught as a substitute at The Manhattan School of Music and New York University.

Upsilon Phi and Truman State University are very pleased to welcome Adam Larson and his quartet as the Guest Artist for Jazz Fest 50!